Coach Quits With Sundogs In Limbo

October 17, 1997|By Javier Solano of The Sentinel Staff

With his pet project now in disarray after a tumultuous first year in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues, Mark Dillon has abandoned the Orlando Sundogs' sinking ship, announcing his resignation as head coach.

He had hoped to stay with the Sundogs for the second year in the USISL's top tier, the A-League (Division II), but Dillon cited major differences with owner Vincent Lu, a former minority partner who bailed out the team financially in midseason.

Lu, a tennis-racket distributor who also owns the A-League's Atlanta Ruckus, has been less than committal about the Sundogs' future. He has said that he wants to keep the team in Orlando, but Lu has tried the patience of USISL President Francisco Marcos, who still is waiting for a letter of credit, stadium lease and plan of operation.

Dillon said he knows how Marcos feels.

''I'm exasperated with Vince's lack of direction, lack of action and lack of concern,'' said Dillon, a former Rollins College and Seminole Soccer Club coach who founded the Orlando Lions' soccer team in 1985. ''His words and his actions are totally contradictory.''

There will be a pro soccer team in Orlando next year, ''one way or another,'' Marcos said, but likely not the Sundogs. Marcos informed Lu on Monday that his rights to the franchise have expired and has given him until the end of the week to transfer those rights elsewhere.

Three potential buyers are interested in relocating the Sundogs, including groups in Baltimore and San Diego. This week, Marcos has fielded inquiries from two USISL Pro League (Division III) teams willing to move to Orlando if the Sundogs leave.